Ginkgo & the mind

Thursday

Sep 24, 2009 at 12:01 AMSep 24, 2009 at 3:33 AM

The herbal supplement ginkgo biloba has long been thought to have properties that help brain function, from forgetfulness to memory loss. Use of ginkgo has its roots in ancient forms of medicine and is now being studied by scientists to uncover its effect on the brain. But turning to ginkgo as a miracle cure for memory enhancement, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease might not yield the results anticipated, as the opinions on its efficacy are varied at best.

By Brianna Bishop

The herbal supplement ginkgo biloba has long been thought to have properties that help brain function, from forgetfulness to memory loss. Use of ginkgo has its roots in ancient forms of medicine and is now being studied by scientists to uncover its effect on the brain. But turning to ginkgo as a miracle cure for memory enhancement, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease might not yield the results anticipated, as the opinions on its efficacy are varied at best.

In traditional and alternative medicine, ginkgo is recommended for memory enhancement.

TRUE: The use of ginkgo biloba for medical reasons including memory preservation and circulatory disorders dates back to Chinese medicine forms thousands of years ago. The ginkgo tree, from which the extract is derived, is one of the oldest tree varieties in the world, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Today, many people use ginkgo extract for the same purposes, though in the United States, it is retailed as a dietary supplement that can be bought in capsule or tablet form or as a tea, according to the center.

Ginkgo contains properties that help with cognitive function.

SORT OF: Science still has not fully discovered the link between ginkgo biloba and memory. Opinions differ greatly on its ability to improve memory or delay memory-related ailments. However, ginkgo is often used to treat circulatory disorders that could potentially affect brain function. Ginkgo has antioxidants that rid the body of free radicals, which can damage many parts of the body, including the brain, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Web site. Additional evidence exists, according to the medical center, showing that ginkgo helps blood flow to the brain.

Ginkgo Biloba reduces the chances of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

FALSE: Though ginkgo has been an age-old prescription against memory loss, the ginkgo Evaluation of Memory study found otherwise. The authors of the study, which was published in November in the Journal of the American Medical Association, consider it the most comprehensive study of ginkgo and dementia to date. The eight-year study showed similar numbers of participants who developed forms of dementia between those taking ginkgo and those taking a placebo. Because of these results, the researchers found ginkgo ineffective in delaying dementia but noted that it might take more years than the span of the study for the effects to manifest.